Page 169 of Keldori By Daybreak

“Oh, and suddenly the Keldorian is an expert on Skalterran geopolitics!” Tamora simpered. “You’ve been here one summer and suddenly you know all there is to know about how I can and should maintain my land?”

“It’s not your—”

“You assaulted my soldier and brought my city into Ferrin Quillguard’s crosshairs. So yes. I arrested your friends and confiscated their cat.” She held up Jonquil to look at her squished face. “This is a cat right?”

Jonquil meowed, as if to respond.

I suppressed a relieved smile. Tamora had taken my friends. They hadn’t drowned yet. They were alive. Imprisoned, sure, but alive.

Magick burned through the last cracked rib in my chest, and I sat straighter.

“Your soldier got what he deserved,” I said, “and it’s not my fault Ferrin attacked Willow’s Grave.”

“The soldier’s gone missing, interestingly enough. Disappeared the night of Ferrin’s attack. You wouldn’t know anything about that?”

“Nope.” I tried not to think about the swatch of red uniform that had been stuck in Una’s teeth.

“Shame. I hate replacing men.” Tamora sighed and uncrossed her legs just to recross them the other way. “I’m willing to expunge your criminal record, however. Ephitz Harbor is a lovely marina town. It’s technically in the Breachriver Prefecture, but I’ve got a sizable fleet moored there. Problem is, I’ve been struggling to get supplies to them because rotsbane keep attacking my steamcarts. But you, you killed that thing in the strath. You’ll be able to get my steamcart to the harbor.”

“That’s all you need?” I pried. “You want me to babysit your train?”

“And take Titus with you of course.” Tamora gestured to where Stanley still sat beside me.

“Oh, perfect.” I forced a grin at Stanley just to try to get under his skin. “Catching up will be so much fun.”

I wasn’t naive enough to think that was the only reason she was sending Stanley. She’d had him try to follow us before. If their connection worked the same way as mine and Ciarán’s, he’d be able to keep the Baron up to date on all of our movements. He might track us all the way to the secret door.

And this fleet of ships waiting at Ephitz Harbor had me nervous too. If they needed supplies, they probably had a long journey ahead of them, and Ciarán had said that Magicians weren’t seafaring people.

Gams, however, could easily be reached by sea. The shore surrounding the Rift was swarming with armies. No one had tried to approach via the water yet.

It would be a long journey, based off what I understood about Skalterra’s size and shape, but Tamora had no way to know I planned on sealing the Rift before she and her boats could make it north.

“I’ll do it,” I said. “In exchange for a ship and a crew.”

Tamora quirked a thin eyebrow over the rim of her monocle. “I’ve already promised the safety of your friends. I’m using precious resources to heal your Grimguard as we speak, Saergrim. I used those same resources to heal you. If you think I’m going to lend you a ship—”

“Not lend,” I interrupted. “Give.”

Tamora laughed and tightened her grip on Jonquil when she tried to squirm away. “You found out you’re descended from the Frozen God and suddenly you’re demanding tithes?”

“It’s not a tithe,” I snapped. “It’s a trade. You promise me a ship and a crew to man it, and I don’t ash Titus, save my friends, and blow up your stupid steamcart the second we leave the station.”

“Titus is a Nightmare. You can’t beat him.”

“Sure, I can. Why else would you need me to protect your train? Like you said, I killed that thing in the strath. You promising safety to me and my friends is an advance. The ship is final payment.”

Tamora pursed her lips and stroked Jonquil’s forehead with a thumb. “A fishing vessel is the best I can do. I can’t spare any from the armada at the moment.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “That will have to be enough.”

“Fine,” I agreed. “If you let me see Ciarán.”

Tamora rolled her eyes and blew a loose curl from her face. “I might consider it, but I haven’t heard a thank you yet.”

I gritted my teeth. I’d killed Ergoth. Tamora should’ve been thanking me.

But I took a deep breath, inhaling the stale cab air through my nose.“Thank you, Baron.”

“There it is! A thank you at long last.” Tamora smirked. “Titus, take her back.”